Pacman out as 2007 shooting surfaces

IRVING, Texas -- The Cowboys have released Adam "Pacman" Jones, and a team source told ESPN's Ed Werder that the move was made after the team learned of new allegations against the troubled cornerback from his time with the Titans.

Jones' release came after "Outside the Lines" reporter John Barr contacted the NFL, the Cowboys and Jones' attorneys about a piece scheduled to air Sunday in which three Atlanta-area men allege that Jones arranged for someone to shoot at them two months after the football player was suspended by NFL commissioner Roger Goodell in 2007.

The June 2007 shooting occurred outside a suburban Atlanta strip club. One of the shooting victims told "Outside the Lines" that he had a dispute with Jones inside the strip club and that not long after he and the two others left the club, a hail of bullets struck their car. The NFL knew about that incident, but charges were never brought against anyone because the victims did not see the shooter.

"Outside the Lines" obtained information that police, investigating a separate Atlanta-area case, had been told by an informant that Jones ordered the June 2007 shooting following his dispute with one of the men. Police have said that while the case remains open, they are not actively investigating.

Jones denied the report and told the Dallas Morning News:
"It will be a lawsuit in a week against ESPN. That's stupid. It's so stupid I have no more comments."

The Cowboys traded for Jones before the season even though he had been suspended in 2007 because of a series of off-field incidents. Jones, expected to give the Cowboys a boost on defense and special teams, had no interceptions and averaged just 4.6 yards per punt return.

"Surprised? Yeah, I was surprised," Jones said of the release, according to the Dallas Morning News. "All I can do is keep working hard, keep my nose clean and hope for the best."

Jones missed six games this season for violating the league's player conduct policy after an Oct. 7 scuffle with a team bodyguard at a Dallas hotel. He missed a seventh game with an injury.

The 25-year-old Jones spent part of his time away from football taking part in an alcohol rehabilitation program.

"He was surprised, and I think he was obviously somewhat hurt," Worrick Robinson, Jones' agent, said of the decision. "At the same time, he understands the business behind what is happening here."

Robinson said he did not think Jones' suspension was a factor in the Cowboys' decision to release the cornerback.

"We don't have any reason to believe at this point that that off-the-field incident had anything to do with the team's decision today," Robinson said. "I know there was certainly a lot of bad that came out of that situation, but there was some good that came out of that situation as well."

Jones' attorney added he expects the cornerback will be back with some team in 2009.

"He is young. He has a lot of ability and he is eager to get back on the field," Robinson said.

Cowboys spokesman Rich Dalrymple declined to comment on the team's decision and said owner Jerry Jones was unavailable. Coach Wade Phillips and linebacker Greg Ellis, who is the team's representative to the players' union, did not immediately return messages left by The Associated Press.

NFL spokesman Greg Aiello said the league would not comment on the ESPN report or the Cowboys' release of Jones.

"We do not comment on player transactions by our teams. And we have no other comment to offer on this matter," Aiello said Thursday.

The Cowboys traded for Jones despite the cornerback's suspension for the 2007 season after multiple off-field incidents while with the Titans. He was given another chance and cleared to play in 2008 by commissioner Roger Goodell.

When Jones was traded to Dallas in April, Tennessee received a fourth-round draft pick. The Titans were also supposed to get a sixth-rounder next year, but because Jones was suspended again, Dallas will instead receive a fifth-round pick in 2009.

Before coming to Dallas, Jones was arrested six times and involved in 12 instances requiring police intervention after Tennessee drafted him in the first round in 2005.

According to the Dallas Morning News, Jones said he plans to remain in the area and workout at friend Deion Sanders' Prime U camp next week.

"If I beat myself up, who will take care of me?" Jones said, according to the report. "Football means a lot to me, but it's not everything. It's not like I'm taking it pretty good. I love me some me."